Unfortunately, as the National Weather Service predicted in early October, an El Nino underway in the Pacific Ocean, has contributed to a mild start to winter across much of the nation and the Heartland in particular. Full Article

Treetops Resort, located just east of Gaylord, will open for the 2006/07-ski season Friday, Dec. 23, by offering free skiing for residents from the 11 surrounding northern Michigan counties. Full Article

A solid cover of winter snow has arrived in the Traverse City area, turning the hills and forests around Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay into a wonderland for skiers, snowmobilers and other winter sports enthusiasts. Full Article

Northstar's new terrain park, the Stash, has an all-natural feel. There was a time when the entire mountain was a terrain park, and all the features you hit - rocks, stumps, swales, banks, fallen trees, etc. - were 100 percent natural. Full Article

Improving their uphill capacity by almost 50-percent to its most popular slopes, Marquette Mountain, located within the city limits of the UP's Queen City, has replaced the old front-face double chair with a new triple, improved its terrain parks and added a new kid's play area at the top of the Tyro lift, complete with a ski-in/ski-out fort and slides. Full Article

Ski Brule, located in the UP near Iron River along the Wisconsin border, opened for the season this past weekend and is the first ski area to open in the Heartland; nobody else is even close to being open at this time. Full Article

Earlier this season I reported on Michigan's Crystal Mountain and their commitment to using wind power, and now Buck Hill, located near the Twin Cities, was a recipient of the National Ski Area Association's prestigious Silver Eagle award for energy conservation. Full Article

Boyne Highlands will be hosting its second annual Fall Ski Racing Summit this Saturday, Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to Boynes race director Olympian Cary Adgate. Former World Champion and Olympian medalist Steve Mahre will be one of the presenters along with Adgate and U.S. Ski Team Director of Alpine Education Finn Gunderson. Full Article

Bayfield, Wisconsin, home to the Apostle Island National Lakeshore, also plays host to the Apple Festival Oct. 6-8, which is one of the Badger State's premiere festivals. Located on the shores of Lake Superior less than an hour from the UP's Big Snow Country (BSC) - Indianhead, Big Powderhorn and Blackjack - the Chicago Tribune has touted it as the "best little town in the Midwest Full Article

Crystal Mountain is the first Midwest resort to make a commitment to renewable wind energy. This coming winter the resort plans on powering their high-speed lift, the Crystal Clipper, entirely with wind power. Full Article